Tanhualang

The plum appreciation banquet organized by the Anshun County King is really elegant and special.

The garden is located on a mountain in the suburbs of Beijing, covering a very wide area. From the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain, there is a long corridor along the mountain, connecting several sparse and scattered pavilions in the mountain. The corridors are surrounded by mountains. plum tree.

Although Shen Jing came with Zhao Heng, she was a little absent-minded all the way because of something on her mind.I don't know why Zhao Heng wanted to accompany him to admire the plum blossoms, even Wei Zheng didn't bring him, so the two of them came up the mountain.

But as soon as he entered the garden, got off his horse, followed Zhao Heng to the corridor, walked up the mountain, breathed the bitter air in the mountain, and looked at the empty mountain scenery outside the corridor, the clean first snow, and the blooming snow. Hongmei, the low mood of the past few days was swept away immediately.

Such a huge mountain, the valley is connected with the ridge, looking around, it is empty and quiet.There is a vast expanse of whiteness between the sky and the earth, only white snow, red plums, and the corridors and steps in front of you are left.It seemed that the only living thing was himself and Zhao Heng in front of him.

There are thousands of levels of corridors from the foot of the mountain to the top.Shen Jing followed behind Zhao Heng. At first, she only missed three or five steps, but gradually it became more and more difficult, and she fell behind.

Zhao Heng didn't speak since he got off the horse. He pulled his cloak and stepped up the steps of the corridor, walking up step by step.Later, seeing Shen Jing's footsteps gradually slowing down, he stopped from time to time to look at the mountain scenery and waited for him for a while.

The two stopped and stopped for an unknown amount of time before arriving at a pavilion.This pavilion is the same as other pavilions, except for one thing. On the left side of the pavilion, there is a sentence of Lu Fangweng's chanting poem: "Everything is turned into mud and dust, and only the fragrance remains the same."

Shen Jing stopped to look at it for a while, feeling a little strange, Zhao Heng stepped back from the front, looked at the words with Shen Jing, and explained: "The King of Anshun loves Lu Fangweng very much. When the garden was built, all the inscriptions and poems He refused to use it, saying that other people's poems are not worthy of this place. Only in this pavilion is a poem chanting plums by Lu Fangweng."

Shen Jing listened, thinking about the journey he had come here, and sure enough, he had never seen a single inscription.

Shen Jing hadn't heard much about the reputation of Anshun County King before. When she came here and looked at the pavilion, she immediately felt that this prince must be a very elegant person.

Seeing that he was out of breath, Zhao Heng sat down in the pavilion: "Let's go after a while."

Shen Jing also sat down at a distance, and asked, "How long will it take?"

Zhao Heng looked up: "It's about half way to the top of the mountain."

Shen Jing: "..."

Seeing that the sun was approaching the mid-heaven, and they had only walked halfway, wouldn't it be dark when they reached the top of the mountain?

Is this here to appreciate the plum blossoms, or to climb the mountain?Shen Jing couldn't help but began to suspect that Zhao Heng brought himself up to this mountain, not to admire the plum blossoms or to climb the mountain, but still remembering what happened after being drunk a few days ago, so he brought himself here to deliberately rectify...

While complaining, Zhao Heng stood up again and walked towards the steps: "Let's go."

They stopped and went, and walked along the steps for another hour. It was past noon, and the two finally reached the top of the mountain.Zhao Heng stood in the pavilion on the top of the mountain overlooking the snow scene and plum blossoms, but he was quiet but completely ignored, leaning against the pavilion and panting slowly.

Before he could catch his breath, Zhao Heng walked up to him and put the hood on his head with a smile: "It's windy on the top of the mountain, don't catch a cold."

Shen Jing got up and said "Thank you", and took out a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe the sweat on his forehead, but felt a little embarrassed.

If this happened in the past, he would never think too much about it, he just felt that Zhao Heng was approachable; but now, he felt that Zhao Heng's behavior was a little...too close.

But looking at the back of Zhao Heng calmly walking towards the yard on the top of the mountain, Shen Jing couldn't help but feel that maybe he...has thought too much?

While secretly blaming himself, he followed Zhao Heng to that yard.

I thought that this place should also be a garden with a unique scenery, but who knows when I went in, I found out that the place inside is not very big, and there are no pavilions and pavilions. Looking at it, it is just the front of the main house, the east wing and the west wing, and the west wing. There are still a few clothes drying, which looks like a yard where a family lives.

As soon as the two of them entered the yard, a man who seemed to be past his age, wrapped in a jacket and with his sleeves rolled up, came out from the west wing with a smile: "Why did you come here?"

Zhao Heng made a brief salute: "I met Uncle Wang. I only cared about admiring the plum blossoms on the way, so I walked slowly."

Shen Jing also saluted, and was let into the west chamber by King Anshun: "Go in, just in time for dinner."

As soon as he entered the door, he smelled a strong smell of barbecue, only to find that there was a gentleman sitting inside, with a refined appearance, wearing an ordinary cloth robe, and he was leaning over the brazier to roast two rabbit legs. After sizing up the two of them, he bowed to Zhao Heng first: "I have seen His Royal Highness King Yu."

"Mr. Zhou is polite." Zhao Heng responded with a shallow salute, "When you come out today, no matter how old or young you are, don't be too polite."

After speaking, he introduced Shen Jing to the other party, and at the same time introduced to Shen Jing: "Mr. Zhou Zuojun. He used to be the Secretary of the Imperial Academy."

"It's already light without an official now." Zhou Zuojun smiled, and handed the two rabbit legs to Zhao Heng and Shen Jing respectively, "You must be hungry all the way up the mountain. How about a taste of this meat."

As soon as the words were finished, the king of Anshun came in, and a servant behind him brought a pot of steaming rice porridge on the table, saluted and went out.

The four gathered around the fire, drinking porridge and grilling meat.I don't know if it's because of the hunger, or because this Mr. Zhou Zuojun is really good at cooking. The taste of the meat and the porridge are very delicious.

After lunch, the servant took Zhao Heng and Shen Jing to the two rooms in the East Wing to rest.When Shen Jing entered the room, she felt warm, but she didn't see the brazier, so she asked the servant: "How do you get warm here, why is it so warm? Is it a kang?"

The servant respectfully explained: "There is a hot spring in the backyard. When the house was built, a canal was built in the foundation. When the gate was opened in winter, the spring water flowed into the house for heating. Therefore, the house is warm but not dry, which is better than a kang or Earth dragons are much more comfortable."

Shen Jing couldn't help being amazed when she heard the words, thinking that this place is really a place of geomantic omen, but then thinking about it, this mountain, this corridor on the mountain, and this courtyard, I don't know how much thought it took to build it so delicately and comfortably.

He was wearing a cloak and leaning on the couch, intending to squint his eyes and take a nap.But because he was too tired from climbing the mountain in the morning, he fell into a deep sleep as soon as he closed his eyes. When he woke up, the light in the room was already dim.

Shen Jing regained her composure, and hurriedly got up and walked outside.He asked the boy where Zhao Heng was, and then walked along the corridor to the ear room of the main house, and he saw Zhao Heng playing chess with the king of Anshun County.

When Zhao Heng saw him coming in, he didn't say much, and then lowered his head and pondered the way of chess again.Seeing this, Shen Jing had no choice but to quietly go back to her room in the West Wing.

After sitting for a while, I was really bored, so I put on my robe and went out to the yard.

I stood at the gate of the courtyard for a while, looking at the red sun sinking and the evening clouds in the west, I couldn't help but feel relaxed and happy.After a while, I heard the sound of the flute coming from a distance. After listening for a while, I went down the steps and saw Zhou Zuojun sitting on the railing playing the flute in a pavilion.

The sound of the flute is melodious and melodious, echoing the distant chirping of birds.Listening quietly, at the end of the song, I just felt that the lingering sound was still lingering in my ears, so I couldn't help but clapped forward: "Mr. Zhou's music is superb."

Zhou Zuojun turned his head and smiled slightly: "The song may not be high, but harmony is indeed widowed. In the past, I played it to the birds and beasts. It is rare to have a bosom friend today."

Shen Jing asked: "Mr. has been living in the yard on the mountain?"

Zhou Zuojun nodded: "Since I resigned from the official position, I have lived here for four or five years."

Shen Jing couldn't help but enviously said: "This place can be regarded as a paradise. It's also very quiet and natural. It's really a good place to retreat."

"The place is really not bad, and the construction is exquisite." Zhou Zuojun smiled, "It's okay to live for a while, but it will inevitably become boring after a long time. There is no sun and moon in the mountains, and there is no one to chat with. When I am bored, I will blow it. The flute relieves boredom, so the skill of flute playing makes perfect."

The two chatted for a few more words before returning to the yard together.It just so happened that the chess game between Zhao Heng and the King of Anshun was over, and the servant brought a simple dinner, and they ate and rested.

Early the next morning, Zhao Heng and Shen Jing bid farewell to King Anshun and Zhou Zuojun, and went down the mountain road.

It was almost noon when we reached the foot of the mountain, but luckily Wei Zheng came to pick him up in a carriage.After getting into the carriage, Shen Jing was so tired that he leaned on the seat to rest.

Zhao Heng, who was speechless all the way, raised his eyes and asked him with his tea in his hand: "Is this garden okay?"

"Excellent, wonderful." Shen Jing praised, thought for a while and said, "Mr. Zhou is a rare and elegant person who can build such a garden."

Zhao Heng said: "The mountain and the garden belong to the King of Anshun."

Shen Jing was stunned: "Oh. But Mr. Zhou said that he has lived here for four or five years—"

Vaguely, he suddenly realized something.

Recalling the eyes and gestures of Anshun County King and Zhou Zuojun yesterday, the two are familiar with each other.At that time, Shen Jing didn't think too much, only thought that the two were probably friends, but after careful consideration——

Zhao Heng blew on the tea bowl and said casually: "Uncle Wang and Zhou Zuojun have been in contact for more than ten years."

Quiet and silent.

A thin string quietly stretched in his heart.

At this moment, the carriage stopped.Zhao Heng put down the tea bowl, lifted the curtain of the carriage and took a look outside, then saw Wei Zheng coming to the front of the carriage, and said in a low voice through the curtain: "The family members of Duke Mingde's mansion are traveling ahead, and there are many attendants in the carriage, blocking the road. "

When Zhao Heng heard this, he paused and said, "Wait."

"Yes." Wei Zheng led the order to go out.

At noon, although it was cold after the snow, the pedestrians outside were still bustling, and the sound of rolling wheels and pedestrians could be heard intermittently in the distance.

But there was silence in the carriage.

In the silence, Zhao Heng asked softly: "The relationship between King Anshun and Zhou Zuojun... Shen Jing, what do you think?"